Hartbeespoort to host 2022 Heritage Symposium

by | May 7, 2022

The next HASA Symposium will be held on 13th, 14th and 15th of October; a full programme is being planned by Mike Benn, Vincent Carruthers, Prof. Mariette Lowes, Tsungi Fundira and Stuart Claque on behalf of the Magaliesberg Association for Culture & Heritage. The symposium will be held at the Hartbeespoort Aerial Cableway Conference Centre. 12 talks, 5 excursions, a ceremony at Sappersrus, and most important of all, the commemoration of the centenary of the construction of the Hartbeespoort Dam and its dam wall. Book early to avoid disappointment – our capacity is 100 people. 50 places are reserved for HASA members and 50 for guests.

The following considerations influenced the programme:

  • The area covered is the Magaliesberg Biosphere Reserve. The total Magaliesberg has much heritage and we will focus on the southeast around Hartbeespoort. The plan covers both national and local heritage.
  • Hartbeespoort is 40 minutes from both Sandton/Johannesburg and Pretoria. Past talks and site visits have attracted over 100 guests so for the Symposium we plan to keep guests’ numbers at 100 guests each day.
  • The Symposium will be held in Hartbeespoort at the Aerial Cableway Convention Centre.
  • Accommodation and heritage sites are within a 10km drive from the Symposium and easy to reach. Country towns have ‘pothole’ problems, so safe travelling is important. The accommodation, heritage sites and Symposium are close by.
  • The Symposium has 12 conference talks and 5 heritage visits with talks.
  • Accommodation with breakfast for basic rooms (2 star): Single rooms at R600.00 and double rooms at R1000.00. Hartbeespoort is a popular tourist town so there are all types of accommodation to suit your pocket. Delegates must book their own accommodation at own cost.
  • Delegate Symposium costs for the 3 days (covering the 12 talks and 5 field visits with talks) will be under R1,500.00. This includes a cableway trip, the sunset dinner on the Magaliesberg and Gala Award dinner. The lunches and the final dinner is for delegate costs.
  • Delegates use their own transport to the Symposium and to visit heritage sites.
  • There will also be bookstalls with a good heritage focus (new and old) and just good books.

Although the programme is still to be confirmed, topics to be explored include:

  • Geology of the Transvaal Supergroup and Bushveld Complex.
  • The Battles of Silkaatsnek.
  • The diversity of heritage in the Magaliesberg.
  • The discovery and significance of ‘Little Foot’.
  • The ambivalence of custodial conservation at living heritage sites: the case of Kruger Cave.
  • The natural heritage of the Magaliesberg, with emphasis on its largest apex predator: the leopard.
  • The Sappers in the two world wars.
  • The heritage role of the Magaliesberg Biosphere Reserve.
  • The walled settlements in the Magaliesberg.
  • The South African War in the Magaliesberg.
  • The South African ox-wagon.
  • Centenary of Hartbeespoort Dam
     

To book email info@machbookings.co.za

Read the first Symposium Announcement.

Download the programme and booking form.

Download the final programme.